Art Nouveau as an Artistic Style

Design, pattern and shape were all essential design elements used by graphic illustrators towards the end of the 1800s. The man who used those same elements and actually changed the way that graphic designers looked at a page, died at the age of only 26 years. Artists continue to attempt to copy his highly individualistic interpretation of art nouveau. Visit this site for further information on graphic design outsourcing.

Oscar Wilde advocated and patronized an assortment of artistic movements, methods and styles. He deeply regarded the practice of art as an end unto itself. He felt that assessing art by ethical or standards was a misguided notion. He quickly became a polemical and substantial literary presence and remained so during his brief life. This was the certain artist chosen by Wilde to create the illustrations for a literary piece that was simultaneously avant garde and disturbing. This youthful illustrator employed dark eroticism, beautiful seeping lines, and patterns with intelligent distortions to decorate this story.

His work often illustrates the interaction between black and white. He employs huge planes and borders or alternatively darkness that contrasts with fragile patterns that play on a white surface. The resulting works were sweeping and beautiful, active across the entire visual plane and lacking symmetry. While the characters in most of his drawings are just simple outlines the objects they are holding, like their clothing or hair, are most often complex. It is that interplay between something simple and something complicated that creates the true strength of his work.

A renewed respect for medieval and early Renaissance decoration and design combined with a fascination with imports from Japan became a rich source of inspiration to many late 19th century designers. The young illustrator's work was published in several famous periodicals, and became the source from which other artists copied him, both in Europe and the United States. It is still possible to find these works reproduced as lithographs and posters, and gracing the walls of people from all walks of life. You will find that further information on outsource graphic design is on that site.

Poster art slowly grew from what was a commercial advertising medium into its very own art form at the end of the 19th century. As opposed to the typically black and white books of the period, posters were frequently produced in color. The leaders of most poster designs started focusing on a large, eye catching image with bright colors. Wording for the product or event was kept to a bare minimum. The artist realized that the best way to attain a viewer's interest, simple design was most effective, and therefore colors were made bold and images were uncomplicated and one-dimensional. As in an Impressionist painting, his lines were somewhat fractured and hesitant in appearance. That's the reason his work is still considered as the forerunner of the classic art nouveau designer poster.

A different illustrator, who used strong outlines and more flowing contours, is put forth as the true "father" of the original art nouveau poster. Slender young female figures in flowing, classically-inspired gowns and long, loose hair was the mainstay of this style. Mythic creatures and other fantasy motifs were often incorporated into these illustrations. With usually one full length figure of a woman dominating the work, another famous art nouveau poster produced works which were narrow and elegant strips. The intricate patterns were inspired by many diverse cultures such as Celtic motifs, Japanese wood cuts, Hebrew lettering, Arab and Moorish decorations, Byzantine mosaics and simple fold art.

There are countless books which reproduce these artworks from the late 1800s, and detail more about how each artist approached their work. Many dealers specialize in collecting and selling posters from the 19th and early 20th centuries. If you travel to international antique shows, you can find their booths among the aisles. They aren't available for peanuts. Bring your checkbook and be ready to write two or three zeroes in order to bring home one of these originals in mint condition.